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Thursday, February 16, 2017

A Cure for Wellness

Title: A Cure for Wellness
Rating: R
Runtime: 2hr & 26 min

If You Love Nightmarish and Eerie Films, This is the Cure for You

Opening:
After the American remake of The Ring, director Gore Verbinski has always been on my radar in creating unique horror and psychological thrillers. After sitting on this one for a while, I have become more and more admired with it as it seeps into my brain with its imagery. Let’s get reel and break this down.

Plot:
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps but soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem.
Directing/Writing

Pros:
The story is reminiscent of 50’s and 60’s Vincent Price era horror films and provides this old school flavor to the overall film and the mystery within. As we dive deeper into this f**ked up rabbit hole of a film, Verbinski blends the perfect amount of eerily surreal and visceral realism and keeps the intrigue going. This film is drenched in a slow-burn atmosphere and gorgeous imagery for a horrific journey. I also appreciate the gradual transformation of Dane DeHann’s character going from this stern businessman to mentally losing his mind as the audience loses their too. Lastly and ironically considering the director’s name, the violence and gore are also in spades and very effective in its brutality and grit and never gratuitous.

Cons:
The end of the film felt rushed and thrown together with a questionable ending taking you out of the movie for a bit. Considering the runtime, you invest yourself for this long ride but the ending feels a bit unsatisfying.

Acting

Pros:
DeHann is great and it was amazing for him to actually have a prominent lead role and not be just the supporting character. Mia Goth also has a wonderful calm mystery about her character throughout and is a great contrast to the paranoia to DeHann’s character. Everyone is fine and does add a more believability to the tone and setting of the film.

Cons:
None.

Cinematography

Pros:
Simply put, it’s beautiful. Verbinski has a greenish blue tint and it just enhances the stunning nightmare playing before you. The shot compositions have depth and visual eye-candy for film fans to examine and casual fans to enjoy. There was even a really cool crash shot inside the car that puts you in the situation and makes you feel the injuries the character experiences.

Cons:
None.

Editing/Special Effects

Pros:
I won’t dance around it, this is a long film. But the slow burn of the mystery is paced very well. The mix of practical and CGI is a wonderful blend and is just the cherry on top of this pretty good cake.

Cons:
Since it isn’t very fast-paced, I can see a lot people feeling that runtime. I am just giving you a fair warning.

Overall:
I am glad I waited a week to do my review from when I saw it. It absorbed its striking and creepy imagery into my brain and I can’t stop thinking about it. The ending and “twist” does deflate some of the energy and excitement for the film but I still highly recommend it, even though I am not jumping up and down about it like other critics.

Moderators

Reesa is owner/moderator/reviewer of the Dallas Movie Screenings Yahoo group and a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association. Cheryl and Daina co-moderators of the Dallas Movie Screenings Yahoo Group. Contributing writers are Chase Lee, Cheryl Wurtz, Wyatt Head, Erin Nicole Parisi, Joel Copling and Dr. Dwanna Swann-Ary..